During the 1980s, Metallica boldly stamped their mark on the burgeoning metal scene. Thriving within the somewhat specialised realm of thrash metal music, Lars Ulrich played a crucial part in the groundbreaking efforts of the band, alongside guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield, propelling it into a universally embraced powerhouse.
Metallica’s prominent influences hark back to the classic heavy metal bands of the 1970s, like Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Judas Priest, and Motörhead. These foundational acts defined metal as a gritty, edgy, and captivating genre, significantly shaping the musical vision of Hetfield, Ulrich, and Kirk Hammett when they initially formed the band in 1983.
Beyond the realms of metal, however, progressive rock’s weightier groups significantly influenced Metallica’s pursuit of intricate compositions. Icons like Queen, Led Zeppelin, and Rush served as pivotal inspirations for the band as they aimed to carve their unique musical journey. Simultaneously, for someone like Ulrich, closely studying the legends of drumming was both captivating and essential.
In a 2014 interview with Guitar Center, Ulrich remembered the first time he spoke to Rush drummer Neil Peart in the 1980s. “So [he said] ‘Do you wanna talk to Neil Peart about drums?’ I was like that big [tiny] at the time. And [I was] talking to Neil, who was like the God of Gods. So I managed to sort of get enough [courage] to dial the phone number that I was given, and I called him.”
“I spoke to Neil Peart for like half an hour about Tama drums,” he added. “It was pretty amazing. The people at Tama sent me a drum kit to my specifications. So that’s 29 years, I’ve never thought of [me] playing any other drums.”
Ulrich also esteemed Phil Rudd as one of his favourites. Rudd gained global recognition as a member of AC/DC, contributing straightforward and robust drumming that significantly shaped their sound during their formative years. “He’s been probably my main, biggest source of inspiration when we did the turn-away from the super-progressive stuff, the crazy stuff after Justice, when we got into the Black Album and the Load stuff, when it got a little more about the bounce and the riffs and the feel and the groove and all that,” Ulrich said during an interview with Forbes.
In 2011, Ulrich also deemed Dave Lombardo a drumming “God”. In an interview with The Music, he said: “When it comes to drums, Dave Lombardo is, by far and away, God,” he said. “There’s no competitive edge, but if there was, Dave would win. Lombardo could kick the rest of our asses with just a whip of his little finger. So there was no competitive edge. That’s the thing that I can truly say is the biggest difference now.”
However, above all, Ulrich’s favourite drummer of all time is, of course, John Bonham. Renowned for his role as the legendary drummer in the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin, Bonham was celebrated for his forceful playing style and thunderous sound, elements that defined Led Zeppelin’s hard-hitting, blues-infused rock music.
Lars Ulrich’s favourite drummers:
Dave Lombardo
Ian Paice
Phil Rudd
Neil Peart
John Bonham
